Polypeptides, nucleic acid molecules, compositions, and related methods

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention include polypeptides comprising a myomerger polypeptide or an extracellular myomerger polypeptide. Other embodiments of the invention include nucleic acid molecules encoding polypeptides comprising a myomerger polypeptide or an extracellular myomerger polypeptide. Other embodiments of the invention include vectors comprising the nucleic acid molecule. Yet other embodiments of the invention include methods of using a myomerger polypeptide or an extracellular myomerger polypeptide. Additional embodiments of the invention are also discussed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for lysing a liposome or a cell selected from the group consisting of an animal cell or a bacterial cell, comprising
 contacting the liposome or the cell with an isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, and SEQ ID NO: 24 or a composition comprising the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide, or a vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule, and 
 lysing the liposome or the cell as a result of the contacting step, wherein the composition does not comprise myomaker polypeptide or a nucleic acid molecule encoding myomaker polypeptide. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is for lysing the cell and the cell is a mammalian cell. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is for lysing the cell and the cell is a bacterial cell or a mammalian cell. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is for lysing the cell and the cell is a gram-positive bacterial cell or a gram-negative bacterial cell. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is for lysing the cell and the cell is a cancer cell. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is for lysing the cell and the cell is a cancer cell and the cancer cell is a tumor cell. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting occurs in vitro. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting occurs in vivo. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises an injection. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method results in one or more pores in the cell membrane or the liposome membrane. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises contacting the cell or the liposome with the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide or a composition comprising the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 19. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 20. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 21. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 23. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 24. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 19. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 20. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 21. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 22. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 23. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide is SEQ ID NO: 24. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid molecule is included in a vector, a viral vector, or a plasmid. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide, the nucleic acid molecule, or the vector is from about 0.0001% (by weight total composition) to about 99%. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) the composition is a pharmaceutical composition and (b) the amount of the isolated extracellular myomerger polypeptide, the nucleic acid molecule, or the vector is from about 0.0001% (by weight total composition) to about 50%.